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One extended cruise around Australia is being halted in the wake of the tragic passing of an elderly lady who was abandoned by the cruise liner on a remote coastal location.

Suzanne Rees had been hiking on Lizard Island with shipmates from the vessel, but separated from the group for a rest. The ship sailed away leaving her and came back later that day after the ship staff discovered the passenger was unaccounted for.

A large-scale hunt found her person the following day.

Officials are examining the tragedy, in coordination with law enforcement and the state coroner.

Chief Executive of the cruise operator stated that travelers and personnel on the Coral Adventurer were notified that the remainder of the voyage had been terminated due to the "sad loss and prior mechanical issues".

Via official communication, he mentioned that passengers would be given a complete reimbursement, and said the company was working "to organize the travel back of the individuals via private aircraft".

Regulatory bodies also issued an latest statement, and said they had "provided a directive to the Commander" banning any further travelers from getting on the liner.

The official said that they would inspect the ship in the Australian city upon its coming back.

Chronology of Incidents

The vessel initially left Cairns on 24 October, and was merely two days into the journey at the moment of the 80-year-old's passing. Lizard Island was the first stop on the journey.

Travelers on the vessel - who generally pay tens of thousands of dollars to participate in the voyage - were taken there for a day trip with the choice of walking or underwater exploration.

Family Statement

The offspring of the victim said that her family was "shocked and saddened that the liner left Lizard Island after an scheduled excursion without my parent".

Via her announcement, she described her mum as an "active 80-year-old" who was a member of a hiking group.

"Based on limited information we have been provided, it looks that there was a failure of care and common sense," she stated.

She added that she hoped the inquiry would be able to determine what "the organization should have undertaken that might have saved Mum's being".

"According to reports from the investigators that it was a very hot afternoon, and she took sick on the hill climb," she revealed.

"They requested her to head down, without accompaniment. Then the boat sailed away, seemingly without performing a passenger count.

"At a certain moment in that chain of events, or not long after, mum died, without company."

Operator Position

Through an announcement, the Head confirmed that the company was "working closely with investigators to assist their inquiry".

He stated that the firm was "deeply sorry that this has transpired" and had extended its full support to the loved ones.

Cruise Industry Standards

The ship accommodates up to one hundred twenty travelers with nearly fifty crew, according to official data. It was specially constructed to enter isolated regions of the Australian coast and is fitted with "auxiliary vessels" - small boats used to transport passengers on shore trips.

Occurrences such as this are infrequent, and liners have systems to document which travelers are embarking or disembarking, according to travel authorities.

"Going ashore secretly or [back] on the ship really isn't an choice," an authority stated.

Vessel operators take these processes extremely carefully and have "sophisticated systems in place to prevent such occurrences from taking place," the specialist added.

"This is most likely a shocking - and sad - single occurrence."